Family Affair Report Details Nepotism in Congress

This report marks the first-ever complete study of how members of the House of Representatives use their positions to benefit themselves and their families. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) undertook a similar study in 2007, but it was not all-inclusive. Expanding on our earlier work, for this 2012 edition we reviewed every sitting member of the House. Download the full report.

CREW’s investigation uncovered 248 members meriting inclusion in this in-depth compilation, which covers the 2008 and 2010 election cycles.

CREW’s key findings:

82 members (40 Democrats and 42 Republicans) paid family members through their congressional offices, campaign committees and political action committees (PACs);

44 members (20 Democrats and 24 Republicans) have family members who lobby or are employed in government affairs;

90 members (42 Democrats and 48 Republicans) have paid a family business, employer, or associated nonprofit;

20 members (13 Democrats and 7 Republicans) used their campaign money to contribute to a family member’s political campaign;

14 members (6 Democrats and 8 Republicans) charged interest on personal loans they made to their own campaigns;

38 members (24 Democrats and 14 Republicans) earmarked to a family business, employer, or associated nonprofit.

Partnership With Legistorm

CREW is partnering with LegiStorm to make the data in this report more widely available in a searchable form. Much of CREW’s research on members’ family relationships and the ways members of Congress use their positions to benefit their families has been incorporated into LegiStorm’s database at www.legistorm.com.